Description
This text comprises a comprehensive analysis of the doctrine of providence, from historical, philosophical-theological, systematic and practical perspectives. The essays in this book discuss the doctrine of providence from four central angles.
First, three chapters give an historical introduction to the modern interpretation of the notion of providence, examining how it was progressively naturalised and secularized in modern times. Second, over seven chapters, and from different perspectives, the book restates the Christian notion of providence in relation to the problem of evil and the theory of evolution. Third, in two chapters, the book exhibits providence as a core theme in systematic theology. Finally, over three chapters, the book shows the ethical and political relevance of the doctrine of providence today.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
1) HISTORY OF THE DOCTRINE OF PROVIDENCE
Matthew Levering, “Aquinas on the Book of Job: Providence and Presumption”
David Bentley Hart, “Providence and Causality: On Divine Innocence”
Francesca Aran Murphy, “Providence in I Samuel”
Cyril O'Regan, Hegel, “Theodicy, and the Invisibility of Waste”
Andrew McGowan, “Providence and Common Grace”
2) DOCTRINES OF PROVIDENCE (SYSTEMATICS)
Douglas Knight, “Time and Persons in the Economy of God”
Katherine Sonderegger, “The Doctrine of Providence”
John Webster, “On the Theology of Providence”
3) SCIENCE AND PROVIDENCE
Sarah Coakley, “Providence and the Evolutionary Phenomenon of ‘Cooperation’: A Systematic Proposal”
Alister McGrath, “The Secularization of providence: Theological Reflections on the Appeal to Darwinism in Recent Atheist Apologetics”
Nicholas J. Healy, “Creation, Predestination and Divine Providence”
4) PROVIDENCE, POLITICS, ETHICS
Stephen Webb, “From Prudentius to President Bush: Providence, Empire, and Paranoia”
Charles Mathewes, “Providence and Political Discernment”
John Swinton, “Patience and Lament: Living Faithfully in the Presence of Suffering”
Hans S. Reinders, “Why This? Why Me? A Theological Reflection on Ethics and Providence”
Philip Ziegler, “The Uses of Providence in Public Theology”
AFTERWARD
David Fergusson, Epilogue
Author(s)
Francesca Aran Murphy, Dr Francesca Aran Murphy is Lecturer in Systematic Theology, University of Aberdeen.
Philip G Ziegler,
Philip G Ziegler is a Lecturer at the University of Aberdeen
Reviews
‘This assembly of new work is a welcome contribution to reflection on one of the most difficult and most vital of theological themes. Exploring exegetical, historical, philosophical, natural-scientific, pastoral and political aspects of the doctrine of providence, the authors exhibit a variety of distinctive approaches, and their proposals are sure to spark responses. These essays make clear the risk and the promise latent in this all-pervasive doctrine, and exemplify the kind of scrutiny it requires.’ – Charles M. Wood, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, USA
Charles M. Wood,
‘I believe the editors of this volume are correct in their belief that the agency of God is becoming one of the most pressing and interesting questions in contemporary debate. A merit of the essays in this collection is the way they reframe the subject and rescue it from its traditional handing and presentation. Of particular merit are the essays by Francesca Murphy on the First Book of Samuel and the essays by John Webster and David Fergusson.’ – Iain R. Torrance, Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ, USA
Iain R. Torrance,
"By and large, this collection critiques but generally endorses the classical doctrine of providence..."
Church Times, November 2009
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